Democrat senators approved a proposal in committee today that expands the list of documents allowed for an ID or to prove lawful presence in Colorado – drawing charges by a Senate Republican of a “rollback” on immigration reform.
House Bill 1313 passed through the State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee on a 3-2 party-line vote. Under the bill, a person would be able to prove legal residency by simply providing a Social Security card with either a hospital record or religious documentation.
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Sen. Dave Schultheis, R-Colorado Springs Read more about Sen. Schultheis |
Sen. Dave Schultheis, R-Colorado Springs, asserted that the bill allows for all types of illegal activity in acquiring legal status.
“It opens the door to all kinds of potential fraud,” said Schultheis, a committee member. “It’s a complete undoing of House Bill 1023, which tightened up the requirements of what you had to do in proving legal residency. It’s a rollback.”
The Legislature met in special session last July to tighten up Colorado laws to make it harder for illegal immigrants to unlawfully obtain public services and false identification.
Schultheis says HB 1313 significantly undermines the identification legislation from last summer. Among the offending provisions, he said, is one that even allows a person’s friend to submit an affidavit attesting to that person’s lawful residency in the U.S.
“They’re just going to take the guy’s word for it,” said Schultheis.